A review on plant-mediated synthesis of metallic nanoparticles and their applications

Metallic nanoparticles find tremendous applications in every field. The surface morphology of these metallic nanoparticles drives their properties and is usually regulated by their mode of synthesis. Apart from chemical and physical methods available for producing metallic nanoparticles, 'plant-mediated synthesis' is considered advantageous mainly because of its eco-friendly nature and cost-effectiveness. Plant-based materials have been successfully incorporated in food, pharmaceuticals as well as in tissue engineering applications. The secondary metabolites in plants are of prime importance as they play a major role as reducing agents. Therefore, numerous plants bearing diversified phytochemical profiles have been explored for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. The current review attempts to encompass available information about the synthesis and application of different metallic nanoparticles employing herbal extracts. Further, critical insights about the properties of metallic nanoparticles, their morphology, and anticipated applications (e.g. antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-diabetic, photo-catalytic, etc) with a futuristic approach are discussed.